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As of 2023, Sling TV is not officially available to Canadians and the company has no plans to expand into other international markets.
Currently, the only way to watch Sling TV in Canada is through the help of a VPN.
How to Watch Sling TV in Canada
If you already have a Sling TV account and are travelling to Canada or you’re just looking to try out a new streaming platform, you’re going need to use some of the best VPNs to help you access Sling TV Canada and bypass the geo-restrictions.
VPNs come in various formats from dozens of companies and there are many cheap VPNs available. The best companies charge an affordable monthly fee, and you can often find deals online for deep discounts on annual and multi-year packages. However, despite VPNs being reasonably priced, there is still a huge demand for free VPN services. Also, mobile VPNs are available for download to Apple and Android devices for an affordable monthly subscription and home networks and small businesses can also use VPN routers that cover all the devices that connect to them, so you can unblock Sling TV Canada.
To start streaming Sling, you can follow these 3 simple steps:
1) Sign in to your VPN provider of choice and connect to a server where Sling is available.
2) Go to Sling TV website and install Sling TV
3) Next, login to your Sling TV account.
4) Sit back, relax and enjoy all that your new streaming platform has to offer!
Why Can’t I Get Sling TV in Canada?
Sling TV has multiple licensing agreements with news companies, media agencies and production studios with geographic restrictions.
Expanding those licensing agreements to a global audience or Canada isn’t financially viable for the company, but unblocking Sling TV in Canada is not hard.
If you already have a Sling subscription and are outside of the geo limited area where you can watch it, you can utilize a VPN app to help access Sling TV subscription.
Sling TV Canada Overview
As we move deeper into the digital age, entertainment is changing.
Sure, there are new channels, shows and movies coming out all the time.
However, the introduction of streaming services has changed the entertainment landscape forever.
Streaming options are often cheaper than a cable subscription, and in most cases, you can subscribe to multiple services for the cost of your cable bill.
Sling TV is a perfect example of a low-cost streaming service, but it’s not officially available for Canadian residents.
What Is Sling TV?
Sling TV is a streaming service available to the American market.
It is a subsidiary of the Dish Network that was launched on January 5, 2015, at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Sling aims to provide consumers with a subscription video service and access to OTT services, and cable channels streamed through digital media systems like apps and smart TVs.
However, Sling TV is only available in the United States and Puerto Rico; Canadian residents don’t have access to the platform.
Although Sling TV also includes the company’s “DishWorld” programming, it’s worth noting that it’s been rebranded as “Sling International” for the streaming platform.
At the beginning of 2020, Sling TV had more than 2.5 million subscribers.
Sling TV offers a user-friendly navigation experience, with an uncluttered menu, giving you the choice of accessing “My TV,” “On Now Guide,” or “Sports.”
The Apple TV interface is the preferred option for most users, providing the cleanest menu versions.
The service on Roku is known to work well too – it appears slightly more cluttered than the Apple TV version, but you get options for “On Demand” and “Rent.”
The navigation is responsive and fast, with quick and effective searches on your favourite content.
Sling upgraded the cloud DVR service, allowing the recording of Sling TV channels, a feature that wasn’t always available for all content on the platform.
However, it’s important to note that the live TV pause feature doesn’t work on the ESPN and Disney channels.
The free cloud DVR service features 10 hours of storage, but that’s not much in HD format, and there’s no protection for your recorded shows.
Sling gives you an upgrade to 50 GB of storage for $5 per month if your looking to increase the cloud storage capacity offered.
This option also prevents automatic erasing of your recorded media.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Sling TV?
Pros:
- An excellent selection of channels
- On-demand and rent features available
- Flexible subscription packages
- Free subscription tier
- Reliable and stable streams
- Several package choices and add-on options
Cons:
- Storage limited to 10 hours
- Not available outside of the United States or Puerto Rico
- Limited local channels
- Sling TV package offers can seem somewhat confusing
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
Sling TV has a somewhat confusing pricing tier.
However, once you understand how it works, it’s easy to customize your service to include all your favourite shows, movies, and live events.
Sling TV offers you an Orange and Blue tier subscription. However, both cost $30, so it might not seem very clear initially.
You get a $10 discount for your first month as an introductory bonus when signing up for the service.
The Orange and Blue packages have plenty of overlapping titles and content.
However, there are niche offerings in each, and you’ll need to check the Sling TV subscription to see which channels you prefer.
Sling TV also gives you the option of selecting both the Orange and Blue services for a combination Sling TV subscription costing you $45 per month – with a $10 discount for your introductory offer in the first month.
What are the Top-Rated Shows and Movies on Sling TV?
As mentioned, there’s plenty of overlapping content between both packages.
Choosing your preferred package takes some research into what the channels have on offer.
The Orange Plan from Sling TV includes 33 channels in your subscription, including access to the following top-rated channels:
- AMC
- CNN
- BBC America
- Cartoon Network
- Comedy Central
- Disney
- ESPN
- Food Network
- HGTV
- IFC
- TBS
- TNT
- Travel Channel
The Sling Blue subscription gives you around 48 channels.
The Blue plan doesn’t include Disney or ESPN, but it boosts its offering with Fox News, The Discovery Channel, NBC Sports, MSNBC, The NFL Network, and NBC Sports, SYFY, and Nick Jr.
The Sling TV Blue plan includes access to local NBC and Fox affiliates in various markets.
If you decide to combine both the Orange and Blue plans, you get a total of 54 channels on the platform.
If we compare it to other streaming platforms like Hulu (around 75 channels total), it’s not as impressive.
However, for the price, we think it’s a good deal for cordcutters.
If you decide to commit to Sling TV and pay for two months upfront, Sling TV sends you an HD antenna or Roku Express device.
Paying for three months in advance gets you an antenna and an AirTV Player Bundle.
Unfortunately, there are no CBS broadcasts or PBS channels available through Sling TV.
However, there’s an impressive range of TV shows, including top titles like:
- Good Eats
- Billions
- Real Housewives series
If the base channel packages aren’t good enough, you can upgrade your package with add-ons, starting at $5 per month.
You have the option of adding the following to your account:
- Sports Channels
- Kids Channels
- Movie Channels
Sling TV also offers add-ons for premium channels costing you between $5 to $10 per month, including:
- Showtime
- Starz
- Epix
Is Sling TV Worth It?
Most people will end up going with the Blue Package from Sling TV.
You get more channels in the base subscription than you do with the Orange package.
The Blue package also allows up to three simultaneous streaming connections on the same account.
The Orange package only allows for one user at a time.
If you’re a sports fan, taking the combined Blue and Orange plan is a good idea, as it adds ESPN and ESPN2.
The live TV packages on Sling are a unique add-on, and you have the option of paying an extra $5 or $10 a month for packages like Comedy Extra, Sports Extra, or Hollywood Extra.
The channels available in each add-on package depend on whether you select the Orange or Blue plan, and Sling TV gives you the best option for customizing your content offering over any online streaming service.
Other Top Streaming Services
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service, owned by Google, that offers a good selection of local and international channels varying on your location. Unlike most other platforms, YouTube TV offers features such as the ability to record shows and watch them later. However, it is only available in the United States, though you can bypass this restriction by using a VPN service.
Discovery Plus Canada
Discovery Plus Canada is a great way to watch your favorite shows, movies, and documentaries, including channels like Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, and many more. You can watch Discovery Plus in Canada by visiting their site and signing up for an account or by using a Canadian version of the app that was released in October. And if you want to watch the American version of Discovery Plus, you can use a VPN app.
Hotstar
Hotstar is the popular Indian video streaming service owned by the Star network, rebranded to Disney+ Hotstar in early 2020 after Disney took over Star India. With more than 100,000 hours of content in nine languages, they have a wide selection of content, including live cricket matches and all major sporting events. The Canadian version offers a limited selection of shows and movies, but VPNs are a great way to get around regional restrictions.
Netflix
This one doesn’t require much of an explanation. Netflix platform is spending a ton of resources on developing exclusive content and has some of the best shows and movies out right now. Prices are $9.99 per month for 1 screen, $16.49 for 2 screens with HD streaming, and $20.99 for 4 screens with HD and UHD. There are no yearly subscriptions.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is another great alternative to Hulu. We think it has a good offering of top-quality movies, series, and TV shows, with original and licensed content. Amazon Prime offers you the service for $7.99 per month, or pay upfront for a year at CAN$79.
Peacock TV
Peacock TV is a video streaming service based in the United States, owned and operated by NBC Universal offering popular shows like 30 Rock and having exclusive access to sports coverage like Premier League soccer matches. Sadly, for now, the Peacock TV service is only available in the US, but users outside of the US can still use a VPN server to get a US IP address.
HBO Max
HBO Max offers some of the best Series and movies available online such as Game of Thrones, Friends, The Big Bang Theory and many more. Unlike other streaming services, HBO Max relies on past content to attract future subscribers. Warner Bros has no plans on releasing HBO Max to Canadians, but a VPN can solve your issue.
Hulu
Hulu is available in the United States and Japan, and offers a wide selection of TV shows and movies, as well as its own original programming. Some of the top TV shows and movies offered by Hulu include The Handmaid’s Tale, Seinfeld, The Thick of It and many more. However, if you want to watch Hulu in Canada, you won’t be able to access the platform directly unless you use a VPN that works with Hulu.
Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is a great choice for your streaming service portfolio if you’re into top-rated content. You get a range of top-rated movies and shows with the option for an ad-free viewing experience. Paramount Plus is available on Amazon Prime Canada. It’s a great way to watch movies and TV shows online, with a library of titles that includes new and classic releases. Plus, you can access Prime Video content with supported devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
FAQs
What Is the Best Alternative to Cable TV in Canada?
There are a few different options for alternative TV providers in Canada. One popular option is to use an over-the-air antenna to watch free, local channels. Another option is to sign up for a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu.
How Can I Stream Live TV in Canada?
There are a few ways to stream live TV in Canada. One way is to use a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu. Another way is to use an app like Sling TV or YouTube TV.
Can I Watch Sling TV Outside THE US?
Yes, you can watch Sling TV outside of the US by using a VPN service. A VPN will mask your IP address and make it appear as if you are located in the US. This will allow you to stream Sling TV content without any restrictions. There are a number of VPN services that offer high-quality streaming speeds and unlimited bandwidth. Now you can enjoy streaming Sling TV in other countries.
What Channels Come With Sling TV?
Sling TV is a live streaming service that provides access to select channels for a monthly fee. The service offers a variety of channel packages, including ESPN, AMC, TNT, and HGTV. In addition to the standard channel packages, Sling TV also offers a variety of add-on channels, including HBO and Cinemax.
What Company Owns Sling TV?
Sling TV is a live TV streaming service owned by Dish Network. It offers a variety of channels, including ESPN, CNN, and HBO, for a monthly fee. Sling TV is available on most devices, including smartphones, tablets, and Roku players.
